All dances

Tamil Nadu

Bharatanatyam

The temple dance of Tamil Nadu

The oldest classical tradition, sculpted into temple walls and codified in the Natya Shastra — a fixed torso, bent knees, and a precise language of hand, eye and face.

Identify a mudra

Hold a hand gesture up to your camera to see which mudra it is.

Parts

  1. Part 1: Namaskaram

    Bhumi pranam — the salutation danced before class begins

    1:4611 steps Narrated

  2. Part 2: Thattadavu

    The eight striking steps — the first adavus of Bharatanatyam

    5:4111 steps Narrated